Hello....again. I feel slightly intrusive as I don't actually have diabetes but my husband does, so I am loitering here on his behalf! After years of being Type 2 he was, just before christmas, diagnosed as Type 1. We thought the world was about to end. However things seem to be okay, haven't quite got down to where his numbers should be but getting there. Have follow up appt with diabetic nurse next week. My biggest worry is him having a hypo during the night. He hasn't yet, but how would I know? Would he know? He is testing his bloods alot and before going to sleep. One night his sugar reading was 6 point something. We panicked thinking that during the night his sugars would fall below 4 and he would have a hypo. So he had some biscuits. In the morning his blood reading was 9 point something. Are we right to worry? Are we worrying about nothing? Actually I'm guessing I should have asked this question on the general messageboard....doh!
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Hello
- Thread starter WorryNot
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Robin
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Hello, and welcome to the forum. Doesn't matter where you post, someone will see it. I too was misdiagnosed Type 2 to start with, the consultant at the hospital realised the Type 2 meds weren't working, and gave me a blood test to check for antibodies, which confirmed I was Type 1. How did your husband's re-diagnosis come about?
You and your husband are bound to be worried about night time hypos, it's only natural to worry about what goes on when youre asleep. However, it is very likely that he would wake up with hypo symptoms ( has he had hypos and does he know what to expect?). I always keep my meter and a hypo treatment, like jelly babies or lucozade, on the bedside table. If I wake up feeling shaky, odd, sweaty, etc, I tend to eat a jelly baby, then test,( in case I'm dropping rapidly) then work out if I need to eat some more. I don't like to go to bed under 7-7.5. If I am a bit lower, I tend to eat something a bit more slow release, or even protein, like nuts or a piece of cheese and a cracker, so it won't shoot my glucose levels up too high.
You and your husband are bound to be worried about night time hypos, it's only natural to worry about what goes on when youre asleep. However, it is very likely that he would wake up with hypo symptoms ( has he had hypos and does he know what to expect?). I always keep my meter and a hypo treatment, like jelly babies or lucozade, on the bedside table. If I wake up feeling shaky, odd, sweaty, etc, I tend to eat a jelly baby, then test,( in case I'm dropping rapidly) then work out if I need to eat some more. I don't like to go to bed under 7-7.5. If I am a bit lower, I tend to eat something a bit more slow release, or even protein, like nuts or a piece of cheese and a cracker, so it won't shoot my glucose levels up too high.
He was Type 2 for years, kept promising he would get his diet in order. But its not his diet per se, he's underweight rather than overweight. They have been trying to get him to take insulin for a while until finally a new diabetic nurse came onto the scene and pretty much said if you don't start insulin you will have a heart attack or a stroke. This frightened him into agreeing to the insulin. He was also worried as he is a driver by trade and is concerned about Type 1 and driving for a living, but we'll cross that bridge if and when. He's never had a hypo himself but we are both aware that feeling shaky and sweaty is probably a good indication. Interesting that these "feelings" will more than likely wake him up. That does ease my mind alot, thank you. So if low sugar before bed its okay to eat a cracker with some cheese? Good tip and better than biscuits. Again, thank you.
Robin
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If he's on insulin and driving, there is no 'if and when' in terms of letting the DVLA know, being issued with a three year licence, and conforming to testing requirements ( before you start, and every two hours while driving) I hope he has done that. (I assume we're not taking HGV here, for which there are more stringent rules)
Robin
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If it's low as in, lower than you'd like to be before bed, yes. If it's low as in, about to slip into hypo territory, best to have something fast acting, then possible follow up with cracker and cheese.
trophywench
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It's absolutely fine to have cheese and a cracker - I had 2 before bed last night!
You do usually wake up when you are hypo - and usually feel 'odd' - I know I sometimes have one of those really weird, colourful dreams where everything's confused and there isn't any continuity to the 'story' in it, it jumps about you're in one location doing whatever with whoever and then you're somewhere else, with different folk, doing different things and no apparent reason for any of the scenarios anyway. It becomes so horrible jumping about all the while, I suddenly think - apparently in the dream - I cant stand this, so I'm going to wake myself up to get myself out of it - and bang, I'm awake, with a memory of the thinking. That was really odd, I then think.
Ooo - perhaps I better test?
Yup - I'm well hypo. Where's my Lucozade?
Well - that, explains that, then!
You do usually wake up when you are hypo - and usually feel 'odd' - I know I sometimes have one of those really weird, colourful dreams where everything's confused and there isn't any continuity to the 'story' in it, it jumps about you're in one location doing whatever with whoever and then you're somewhere else, with different folk, doing different things and no apparent reason for any of the scenarios anyway. It becomes so horrible jumping about all the while, I suddenly think - apparently in the dream - I cant stand this, so I'm going to wake myself up to get myself out of it - and bang, I'm awake, with a memory of the thinking. That was really odd, I then think.
Ooo - perhaps I better test?
Yup - I'm well hypo. Where's my Lucozade?
Well - that, explains that, then!
Robin
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Oh good, sometimes the medical staff don't think to tell us!
Platty1953
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Don't worry too much about night time hypos as most people do get some indication. When I get them (rarely nowadays) it feels like somebody is stood next to the bed shaking me to wake me up. 6.0-8.0 before bed for me is ok, anything lower then a biscuit or similar helps. Usually back in normal range by morning.
SB2015
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A others have said, you tend to wake up.
Sometimes I lay there wondering why I can't get back to sleep, and do nothing about it, and then wonder why I can't get back to sleep, ... That is more likely to happen when I am high.
When low I wake and feel hypo (difficult to describe and different for each person, but in general sweaty and vacant). As others have said it is important to keep test kit and treatment next to you in the bedroom. You need to treat it straight away. My husband helps. Y just checking that juice and jelly babies have been topped up after a night hypo, so that I don't get caught out. Good to have another person on the case.
Sometimes I lay there wondering why I can't get back to sleep, and do nothing about it, and then wonder why I can't get back to sleep, ... That is more likely to happen when I am high.
When low I wake and feel hypo (difficult to describe and different for each person, but in general sweaty and vacant). As others have said it is important to keep test kit and treatment next to you in the bedroom. You need to treat it straight away. My husband helps. Y just checking that juice and jelly babies have been topped up after a night hypo, so that I don't get caught out. Good to have another person on the case.
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